Back then, a half-dozen members of the Calgary Flames' current roster were suiting up for the AHL's Abbotsford Heat and their sudden starting netminder, Joni Ortio, hadn't even stepped on the ice in an NHL game.

The Flames don't want to use their youth and inexperience as an excuse but, when you consider those facts, Monday's result — a 3-2 loss to the Kings at the Saddledome — shouldn't be a surprise.

Then again, given their relentless work ethic and never-say-die approach, it's also no shock the Flames gave Darryl Sutter's squad a scare, scoring twice in a span of only 2:09 late in the third period to make things interesting.

“The way we played the last seven or eight minutes of the game, if we played the whole game like that, the outcome could have been a bit different,” said Flames heavyweight Brian McGrattan, who buried a slapshot from the slot with 2:22 remaining in regulation to make it a one-goal affair.

“The identity of our team, the story of our team this year, is how we don't give up on games. It was exciting, and we almost came back.”

The identity of the Kings is a group that plays a suffocating style of defensive hockey, exactly what fans at the Saddledome witnessed after Justin Williams and Trevor Lewis each scored on Ortio in the opening period.

Anze Kopitar added a third period-strike for the Kings, giving former Calgary Hitmen puck-stopper Martin Jones just enough offensive support as Michael Cammalleri — on a wacky bounce off the leg of Kings rearguard Slava Voynov — and McGrattan each tickled the twine in the late stages.

“They're a bigger, more physical team than us, and I thought they imposed their rhythm right from the start,” said Flames head coach Bob Hartley. “They got that early goal and that kind of put us on our heels. It's unfortunate because I thought, defensively, we did lots of good things.”

Probably learned a few things, too.

The Kings have now rattled off eight straight triumphs since their 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks five weeks ago, a winning streak that dates back before the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

They're considered a Stanley Cup contender for a reason.

The Flames, meanwhile, are in the throes of a rebuild and iced eight rookies for the third straight outing, although two of them — centre Markus Granlund and defenceman Tyler Wotherspoon, both 20-year-olds — departed early due to upper-body injuries and did not return.

For the youngsters, Monday's loss to the bigger, stronger, more skilled and more experienced Kings will be an eye-opener.

With a spirited comeback late in the game, they showed that they're quick learners.

“They're a great team to play against, because you can learn a lot against them,” said Flames captain Mark Giordano. “They win battles. They don't turn the puck over hardly ever. They don't try to make hope plays through the neutral zone. They chip pucks. They work hard.

“We can learn a lot from them, we really can. But at the same time, when you play against them, we don't want to give them respect and sit on our heels.

“I thought, as the game went on, we learned and learned and got better at putting pucks in and going and getting it. And that's where we got our chances.”

It doesn't get any easier for the Flames. They will host another Pacific Division power — the Anaheim Ducks — in Wednesday's action at the Saddledome (8 p.m., Sportsnet West, Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

Kings down Flames

Mikael Backlund from the Calgary Flames goes up against Drew Doughty from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Mikael Backlund from the Calgary Flames goes up against Slava Voynov from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Justin Williams from the LA Kings scores to make it 1-0 against Joni Ortio and the Calgary Flames in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

A shot from Trevor Lewis from the LA Kings scores to make it 2-0 against Joni Ortio and the Calgary Flames in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Joe Colborne from the Calgary Flames goes up against Trevor Lewis from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Goalie Joni Ortio from the Calgary Flames makes a save on the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Ben Hanowski from the Calgary Flames goes up against Tanner Pearson from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Goalie Joni Ortio from the Calgary Flames makes a save on Mike Richards for the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Corban Knight from the Calgary Flames goes up against Kyle Clifford from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Goalie Martin Jones from the LA Kings makes a save on a shot from the Calgary Flames in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Mikael Backlund from the Calgary Flames shoots on goalie Martin Jones from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. The final score was 3-2 for the Kings. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Mark Giordano from the Calgary Flames tangles with Anze Kopitar from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. The final score was 3-2 for the Kings. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Lance Bouma from the Calgary Flames tangles with Jake Muzzin from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. The final score was 3-2 for the Kings. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Goalie Joni Ortio from the Calgary Flames stops Justin Williams from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. The final score was 3-2 for the Kings. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Goalie Joni Ortio from the Calgary Flames robs Marian Gaborik from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. The final score was 3-2 for the Kings. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Goalie Joni Ortio from the Calgary Flames robs Marian Gaborik from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. The final score was 3-2 for the Kings. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

TJ Galiardi from the Calgary Flames gets a chance on goalie Martin Jones from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. The final score was 3-2 for the Kings. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Corban Knight celebrates a goal by team-mate Brian McGrattan on goalie Martin Jones from the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. The final score was 3-2 for the Kings. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Brian McGrattan (M) gets congratulated on his goal by team-mate Corban Knight as they took on the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. The final score was 3-2 for the Kings. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

Brian McGrattan (M) gets congratulated on his goal by team-mate Corban Knight as they took on the LA Kings in NHL hockey action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alta. on Monday March 10, 2014. The final score was 3-2 for the Kings. Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency